Nine months ago on YouTube, I found a beautiful interpretation of Judaism’s Shehecheyanu blessing for auspicious occasions sung by cantorial troubadour Caron Dale (actually, a cover of Debbie Friedman‘sTzvika Pik‘s version of the musical blessing.) It was the last blessing I said this morning in the mikveh waters–the very ones pictured above–the moment that I officially became a Jew.

I’ll blog about the actual experience later, when I’m able to come back down to earth. But for right now, Caron’s recording fits. It fits very well, indeed…

MICHAEL THADDEUS DOYLE

I'm an NYC-native, Puerto Rican, Venezuelan, Chilean, French, Jewish convert, Disney World fan with an unexpected last name, living in Chicago. I believe in social justice, big cities, and public transit. I did urban planning in New York. I do communications strategy in Chicago. I've written this blog since 2005. I’ve been with my partner since 2010. And in 2015, I reunited with my family after 20 years apart. Believe in the world you want to live in.